懐く
なつく
verb-godan
to become attached to; to take to; to warm up to
Conjugation
| Affirmative | Negative | |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 懐く | 懐かない |
| Present polite | 懐きます | 懐きません |
| Past | 懐いた | 懐かなかった |
| Past polite | 懐きました | 懐きませんでした |
| て form | 懐いて | 懐かなくて |
| ている present | 懐いている | 懐いていない |
| ている polite | 懐いています | 懐いていません |
| ている past | 懐いていた | 懐いていなかった |
| ている past polite | 懐いていました | 懐いていませんでした |
| Conditional ば | 懐けば | 懐かなければ |
| Conditional たら | 懐いたら | 懐かなかったら |
| Volitional | 懐こう | — |
| Volitional polite | 懐きましょう | — |
| Potential | 懐ける | 懐けない |
| Passive | 懐かれる | 懐かれない |
| Causative | 懐かせる | 懐かせない |
| Imperative | 懐け | 懐くな |
1.
to become attached to; to take to; to warm up to
To develop affection and trust toward someone, becoming comfortable in their presence. Most commonly used for animals becoming tame and friendly with a person, or for young children warming up to an adult.
この猫はすぐに懐いた。
This cat warmed up to me right away.
近所の子どもが私に懐いて、毎日遊びに来る。
The neighborhood kid has taken a liking to me and comes to play every day.
野良猫にエサをあげていたら、だんだん懐いてきて、今では膝の上に乗るようになった。
I kept feeding a stray cat, and it gradually warmed up to me — now it sits on my lap.
USAGE:
Primarily used for animals and small children, not for adult-to-adult relationships. The subject is the one becoming attached (the animal or child), and the person they warm up to is marked with に.
Pattern: [animal/child]が[person]に懐く
COMMON COLLOCATIONS:
- 猫が懐く (a cat warms up to someone)
- 犬が懐く (a dog takes to someone)
- 子どもが懐く (a child becomes attached)
- すぐに懐く (to warm up quickly)
- なかなか懐かない (to not easily warm up)
SIMILAR WORDS:
- 慣れる: to get used to — broader; about becoming accustomed, not necessarily affectionate
- 甘える: to act spoiled, to be clingy — the behavior that follows after 懐く